Improvement in fire-escapes



A. L. CLARK. FIRE-ESCAPE.

No. 191,115. Patented May zz N.PETERS, PHUTO-LLTHOGRAPMEH. WASHINGTON, D C.

UNITEn STATES PATENT FFIGE.

ALFRED L. LARK, OF DUBUQUE,`IOWA.

IMPROVEMENT IN FIRE-ESCAPES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N o. l9l,ll5., dated May 22, 1877 application led May 10, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ALFRED L. CLARK, of Dubuque, in the county of Dubuque and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to tire-escapes, having for its object to furnish such device as shall be simple in construction, efficient in operation, and not liable to get out of repair, and especially to furnish such a device as can be regulated in its downward movement by the person descending, or by the person upon the ground, and such device asmay be reversed when one person has descended so that another can readily follow; and it consists in a spiral metallic tube, having a straight portion at each end, through which the cord or rope passes, and each end provided with hooks to which the body-strap is att-ached, the cord or rope passing through the tube, the person descending being held by the body-strap, so that they have access to the cord or rope below the tube, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

Referring to the annexed drawings, the figure represents a side elevation of a building in dotted lines with myimprovement attached.

A represen ts the spiral tube, having straight portions a in direct line with each other. Ihe ends of this tube are provided with hooks or loops b. B represents the cord or rope passing through the spiral tube, and provided at each end with a ring, c, for the purpose of attaching the same to a hook or other suitable device in the window or room from which the lperson wishes to descend. -C represents the body-strap composed of a broad band, d, and

two side bands, e, the upper portions of which are provided with rings which engage with the hooks a of the spiral tube A.

The operation of my invention is as follows: One end of the rope or cord B is attached to the window, or some'portion of the room from which the person wishes to escape. The bodyband is adjusted to the lower hooks of the tube A, as represented in the drawing. The body-band is secured around the person, who takes hold of the rope or cord below the tube, and by a slight downward pressure upon the cord the tube can be regulated fast or slow, as desired; or this can be accomplished by a person standing upon the ground, and regulating the tension of the rope upon the spiral tube.

When the person has reached the ground, if there be one or more persons in the room the tube is drawn up and reversed end for end, the body-band attached to the opposite end of the tube, and another person descends.

This operation may be repeated until all the persons have safely descended to the ground. lt will be observed that this device, being so simple in construction and compact in form,

it is thus made portable, and can be carried in a travelers satchel.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

Ihe spiral tube A, having straight end portions a, and hooks b, in combinatio-nfwith the rope or cord B, and body-band C, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFRED L. CLARK.

` Witnesses:

WM. B. UPPERMAN, l?. C. DIETERIOH.. 

